For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Dear brothers & sisters in Christ,

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior. Amen.

As seasons change…leaves float to the ground…crops are harvested…temperatures drop…daylight fades…we remember it is all a gift. God has blessed us abundantly. God has strengthened us. God has protected us. God has infused us with faith.

You have been sealed by the power of the Holy Spirit and sealed with the cross of Christ forever. You have been given the Holy Spirit and united with the Body of Christ. “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!”it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God,…” (Romans 8:14-17) Your prayers are led by that Spirit that calls God, “Father!” You have been filled with the Spirit to call upon the name of the Lord and be confident that He listens.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.” (Hebrews 11:1,3) God has blessed us with His Holy Spirit to allow us to trust His word and believe in that which we cannot see.

This is not the faith of the weak. This is not the faith of the wavering. This is not the faith of the anxious or timid. This is not the faith of the world or of the flesh. This is the faith of those who belong to Christ. It is the Holy Spirit within us bubbling with the faith and power of Christ Himself. It is the faith and power that in perfect obedience conquered sin and death.

This is the faith that strengthens the weak. This faith bolsters the wavering. This faith calms the anxious and fortifies the timid with valor. This is the faith that heals the sick and raises the dead. This is the faith that forgives sin and conquers evil. This is the faith bequeathed upon you by God, your refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

The grace and peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)